 The NECF Prayer Commission will in October host the third annual South-east Asia Prayer Consultation, which will be attended by prayer representatives from 11 countries. To prepare the participants for the consultation, the NECF Research Department is helping to provide country reports – one report for each month beginning January – to the prayer networks across the 11 countries.
The country report focuses on urgent issues facing the country and gives prayer tips. In cooperation with the initiative, Berita NECF will run summaries of the reports from this issue until the consultation. We hope this will help to raise awareness of our neighbours and the urgent issues facing them, and may the increased knowledge enhance our prayers for them. This issue, our prayer focus is on Burma and Vietnam (shaded black left and right respectively on map).
BURMA /MYANMAR
Population: 42,720,196
Ethnic groups: Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%, Mon 2%, other 5% (Chin, Kachin, Karenni, Naga, Rohingya, etc)
Religions (estimated): Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim 4%, Animist 1%, Others 2%
(Statistics: CIA Factbook, Dec 16, 2004)
Burma is best known for Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the only opposition party, National League for Democracy (NLD). But, because of the government’s tight grip on the media, not much is known about the appalling human right abuses by the military regime against the ethnic minorities.
A 1998 interim report by Jubilee Campaign described the country as a “vast concentration camp”. The ongoing attacks by the Burmese army against the ethnic minorities have been characterised by mass relocation, forced labour, and destruction of villages. Rape against ethnic women is prevalent. Many hiding in the jungle are in dreadful conditions without proper food, shelter and medical care. The Asian Human Rights Commission circulated a hunger alert in response to the military’s burning of rice fields in the Karen state (Dec 29, 2004). Two other human rights groups – the Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust and Christian Solidarity Worldwide – issued a report last December accusing the government of gross violation of human rights and said its actions against the ethnic groups amounted to genocide.
Burma, world’s second largest producer of illicit opium, has been ruled by successive military regime since General Ne Win seized power in a coup in 1962. The latest military government, now called the State Peace and Development Council, has ruled the country without a constitution or legislature since 1988. The country was then renamed Myanmar, but it was not approved by any sitting legislature in Burma, nor recognised by the US Government. Despite the landslide victory of NLD in the multi-party elections in 1990, the ruling junta refused to hand over power.
While there is tendency to view religious freedom as a threat to national unity, the successive governments and military have to date associated themselves with Theravada Buddhism. Buddhist doctrine remains part of the curriculum in all elementary schools (International Religious Freedom Report 2004). Yet, meetings and activities of Buddhist monks are controlled and restricted.
The Rohingyan Muslims in Arakan State, who are denied citizenship status, have been experiencing systematic legal, economic, and social discrimination. Christians are periodically coerced to convert to Buddhism with the intention of ‘burmanising’ them. All publications, religious and secular, are subject to control and censorship. Bibles in indigenous languages cannot be imported legally, but can be printed locally with government permission, which is difficult to obtain.
PRAY FOR: A righteous government that exercises justice, loves mercy and cares for the ethnic minorities and religious freedom; Courage, strength and comfort for suffering Christians and they may be empowered to show love and bring hope to the oppressed; God’s deliverance of the children who are forced to be soldiers, orphaned by the fightings, and those kidnapped and sold into prostitution or forced into labour by the military regime; The spiritual and physical needs of over two million Internally Displaced People (IDPs) be met; Fair trials for those who have been unjustly imprisoned; Protection for the ethnic women from rape and forced labour and murder; and Emotional healing for the many millions of Burmese, especially children, who have been traumatised by the brutality of the military government.
VIETNAM
Population: 82,689,518
Ethnic groups: 54 ethnic groups. Vietnamese 85%, Chinese (1.6%), Hmong/Mien (1.6%), Thai (4.8%), Khmer (4.1%), Cham, and mountain groups [Operation World 2001]
Religions (estimated): Buddhists (50%), Roman Catholic (8–10%), Cao Dai (1.5–3%), Hoa Hao (1.5–4%), Protestants (1.5–2%) percent of the population), and Muslims (0.1%).
Vietnam, a country recently known for its battle against a worsening bird flu epidemic, is condemned by several international groups in its reluctance to improve civil and political rights.
Vietnam is a one-party state, ruled and controlled by the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). However, ‘obedience’ to ideological orthodoxy has become less important than economic development as a national priority in recent years. The CPV has gradually reduced its formal involvement in government operations and allowed the government to exercise discretion in implementing policy. The constitution, however, does not provide the right for citizens to peacefully change and freely choose their government.
The National Assembly is the highest representative body of the people and the only organisation with legislative powers. It has become more vocal and assertive in exercising its authority over lawmaking in recent years, but remains subject to CPV direction. About 80 percent of the deputies in the National Assembly are CPV party members. The government’s human rights record remains poor to date, and its officials continue to commit serious abuses.
The February International Human Rights Reports recount the widespread longstanding societal discrimination against ethnic minorities and the continuous harassment of some highland minorities – particularly the Hmong in the northwest provinces and several ethnic groups in the Central Highlands – for practising their Protestant religion without official approval. Several credible sources report disappearances of persons and incidents of absolute detention of citizens for peaceful expression of political and religious views.
The Government significantly restricts freedom of speech, press, assembly, and freedom of association. The lack of judicial independence contributes to constant denial of fair public trial. The CPV practically controls the courts closely at all levels, selecting judges for their political reliability.
The Government does not favour a particular religion. Although citizens are allowed to practice individual worship in the religion of their choice, it is tolerated within the context of state-regulated religious groups. The Ordinance on Belief and Religion, which took effect last November, restates citizens’ right to freedom of belief, religion, and freedom not to follow a religion and that violation of these freedoms is prohibited. It advises, however, that abuse of such freedoms to threaten the country’s unity, harmony and independence is illegal and warns that religious activities will be suspended if cultural traditions are negatively affected.
The ordinance also restates the principle of government control and oversight of religious organisations, specifying that religious groups must be recognised by the Government and must seek approval from authorities for activities, including the training of clergy, construction of religious facilities, preaching outside a recognised facility, and evangelising.
National security and national solidarity override guarantees of religious freedom. Protestant evangelical churches (found mainly among ethnic minorities) and other unregulated groups are actively suppressed on the charge of threatening national security and unity. Many of them are pressured, tortured and imprisoned in efforts to get them to recant their faith.
Bureaucracy and corruption are two special features in the Communist administration that lead to monopoly of power. As a result, the economy is underdeveloped and weakened despite the increased number of foreign investment.
Pray: That the government at all levels, from central to local, will recognise God’s sovereignty and will give up their prejudices towards the ethnic minorities and the Church and stop all forms of persecution and hindrances to the Church; for God to raise up reformists and just leaders, and that religious freedom may be realised; for Christians who are suffering for their faith in prisons and those who are risking life and liberty to meet for worship and fellowship.
IRAQ
The Jan 30 election was an historical breakthrough in Iraq in democratic progress, despite serious flaws as charged by critics. The Shiite Muslims won, followed by pro-American Kurds. However, a coalition would have to be established, which would mean a power-sharing government. Concern has been expressed that the election has understated the diverse ethnic/religious groups in the country. The Sunni Muslims abstained from voting while Christians claimed they were prevented from voting.
nalysts have also warned that writing a constitution may tear the country apart, as the leading Shiites have strongly pushed for an Islamic constitution. It was reported that some 800,000 Christians were marginalised and many had fled the country.
Pray for hope, comfort and faith for our brethren; for God’s divine intervention in the forming of a new government and Constitution that favours religious freedom; and for Christian representation in the new government.
GEOGRIA
Perhaps the most tragic cases of Christian persecution are when Christians persecute their fellow believers, as has been happening in Georgia where some Orthodox Christians have been causing great difficulties for non-Orthodox, especially Baptists. This has included burning Bibles and Christian books, beating church leaders and destroying church buildings. But reconciliation started last year when a Baptist leader had to testify in court against nine Orthodox Christians who were being tried for what they had done to him. He asked the judge to release them. The court could not believe it, but eventually accepted the decision, to great rejoicing from all in court. Pray that those who call themselves Christians will live in peace together, however great their differences may be.
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